The Revolt of Mamie Stover (film)

This article is about the film. For the novel, see The Revolt of Mamie Stover.
The Revolt of Mamie Stover

Original film poster
Directed by Raoul Walsh
Produced by Buddy Adler
Screenplay by Sydney Boehm
Based on The Revolt of Mamie Stover
1951 novel
by William Bradford Huie
Starring Jane Russell
Richard Egan
Joan Leslie
Agnes Moorehead
Music by Hugo Friedhofer
Cinematography Leo Tover
Edited by Louis R. Loeffler
Distributed by Twentieth Century-Fox
Release dates
  • May 11, 1956 (1956-05-11)
Running time
 92 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $2 million[1]
Box office $2 million (US rentals)[2]

The Revolt of Mamie Stover (1956) is a romantic drama DeLuxe Color film directed by Raoul Walsh and produced by Buddy Adler from a screenplay by Sydney Boehm, based on the novel of the same name by William Bradford Huie. The picture stars Jane Russell and Richard Egan, with Joan Leslie, Agnes Moorehead, and Michael Pate filmed in CinemaScope. The music was by Hugo Friedhofer and the cinematography by Leo Tover, with costume design by Travilla.

This adaptation downplays the novel's critique of Hollywood and the film industry.

Plot

In 1941, Mamie Stover (Jane Russell), a San Francisco prostitute, is chased away from the city by several policemen. On a freighter to Honolulu, she meets Jim Blair (Richard Egan), a successful writer who thinks of Mamie as a Cinderella-like beauty. Flattered, Mamie enjoys not being associated with her former occupation and falls in love. A shipboard romance is cut short when Mamie notices Jim being welcomed ashore by his sweetheart Annalee (Joan Leslie).

As they part, Jim lends Mamie $100 to help her build a career. She visits an old friend, Jackie Davis (Jorja Curtright), who introduces her to Bertha Parchman (Agnes Moorehead), the mean-spirited owner of a dance hall cantina. Even more cold-hearted is Bertha's vicious and sadistic manager Harry Adkins (Michael Pate), who beats any rule breaking hostesses working at the club. Mamie applies for a job, although according to Bertha's rules and other thirteen rules restricting prostitutes in Honolulu, she is not allowed to have a boyfriend, visit Waikiki Beach, or open a bank account in order to avoid taxes.

Mamie earns enough money to pay back her debt to Jim, so she invites him to the club. Jim learns that Mamie has become the main attraction of the club, having acquired the nickname "Flaming Mamie." She is disappointed by Jim's disapproval and rejects an offer to return to the mainland. She does convince him to rekindle their friendship which puts a strain on his relationship with Annalee, who is jealous of the amount of attention that Jim is giving Mamie. In the meantime, she persuades Jim to manage her money and write a check to her father on her behalf. Seeing a response addressed to "Mrs. Jim Blair" upsets Jim, but he reluctantly agrees to go along. He defends Mamie when Harry beats her up for going out with him.

The bombing of Pearl Harbor causes Jimmy to frantically search for Mamie and decide they should marry when he returns from the military. The war temporarily fades Mamie's personal setbacks. She purchases multiple properties cheaply and rents them. Jim convinces Mamie to leave the dance hall while he is on leave. Returning to the club to announce her resignation, Mamie finds out that Harry has been fired for encounters with the military police. Bertha, fearing the loss of the club's biggest attraction, promises to make Mamie a star and offers her half of the profits, as well as a respectable mailing address to deceive Jim when writing him.

Misleading Jim does not work, though, as someone sends him a promotional poster of Mamie, posing for a club performance. Before he can respond, he is hit and wounded by a bomb. When granted convalescent leave, he returns to Hawaii to confront Mamie. After an argument, Jim concludes that their lives are too different and leaves her for good. A heartbroken Mamie leaves Hawaii. In San Francisco at the ship to airport transfer, she tells a police officer that she gave away her fortune and is returning to her hometown in Mississippi.[3]

Cast

Production

In May 1955, it was reported that 20th Century Fox had bought the rights to Huie's novel of the same name.[4]

The role of Mamie Stover was originally intended for Marilyn Monroe, though a script had not been written yet in September 1955 when she was linked to the project. When she turned it down, the role was offered to Jane Russell, whose confirmation was reported in November 1955. Lana Turner was considered for the lead role, but an extended vacation prohibited her from taking the part.[5] Joan Leslie was assigned to co-star in December.[6]

Russell was originally supposed to wear a red wig for the film. Learning that her eyebrows had to match the coloring, she decided to dye both her hair and eyebrows.[7] Filming took place partially on location in Honolulu. The remainder of the scenes were shot on the lot of Fox. The film was Joan Leslie's final film appearance before retiring from the screen.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Solomon, Aubrey. Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1. p250
  2. ↑ 'The Top Box-Office Hits of 1956', Variety Weekly, January 2, 1957
  3. ↑ The Revolt of Mamie Stover, tcm.com; accessed July 18, 2015.
  4. ↑ "McCambridge in 'Giant;' Harvey, Conte Deals Set; 'Bride of India' Bought" by Edwin Schallert, Los Angeles Times, May 18, 1955. p. 7
  5. ↑ Louella Parsons, "Jane Russell Gets Marilyn's Role," Milwaukee Sentinel, November 5, 1955. p. 14
  6. ↑ "SIMENON TO EARN $3,000 DAILY WAGE; Prolific Novelist Is Planning 15-Day Task of Adapting 'Hitch Hikers' for Film", The New York Times, December 2, 1955. p. 32
  7. ↑ "Jane Russell To Be Redhead In Next Movie", TimesDaily, December 6, 1955. p. 4 (section two).

External links

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